NGO launches initiative to advance girl-child cause
Initiative
By Igbaugba Ehigimetor
Benin, July 31, 2018 (NAN) A Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), Girl Effect, on Tuesday in Benin launched an initiative known as “Girls Connect”to advance the cause of the girl-child.
The Deputy Country Director of the organisation, Mrs Hadeezah Haruna-Usie, said the initiative was designed to transform the lives of every Nigerian girl.
The Girls Connect, she said, would empower the girl-child to eliminate poverty, promote good health and their well-being, in addition to driving their economic growth and reducing inequalities.
Haruna-Usie said the initiative would be driven by an innovative Interactive Voice Response (IVR), a mobile service for girls.
According to her, it is a pioneering partnership founded by Girl Effect Nigeria, a creative non-profit that uses media and mobile technology to empower girls, and the iSON group, one of Africa’s leading IT and ITeS companies.
“The Girls Connect programme uses compelling stories to reach young women from across a broad spectrum of the Nigeria society through the kind of voice recognition software that a bank might otherwise use to address consumer queries.
“However, unlike the bank, the point of Girls Connect is to create an immersive world for girls which anonymously answers their queries about growing up in challenging circumstances, on their own terms, free from any fear of judgment.”
The country director said the mission was to reach as many girls as possible with the campaign and receive more than one million calls in return.
“We want to be able to give millions of girls in Nigeria the chance to be connected, informed and empowered to make decisions in their lives,” she said.
The wife of Edo Governor, Mrs Betsy Obaseki, thanked the NGO for the initiative, and promised that the state government would support the programme.
Represented by the Commissioner for Women Affairs, Mrs Magdalene Ohenhen, Obasiki said that the initiative would address areas bordering on challenges of most girl children.
“We have several vulnerable girls with these issues but have no one to talk to.”
With this initiative, they can speak freely without being afraid of stigmitisation,” she said.
Similarly, 9mobile said it would partner with the NGO to make the Nigerian society heathier, safer and more productive. (NAN)
ESI/KOLE/NKO
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Edited by Remi Koleoso/Nkechi Okoronkwo